San Juan, PR – A major fugitive wanted on federal
charges for his alleged participation in a major drug organization has been
arrested by the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force in
Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Javier Morales Andreu, also known as “Gadget”, was being
sought on a federal warrant issued in the District of Puerto Rico. He had
been a fugitive from justice since 2011, when a federal Grand Jury returned
an indictment charging him with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, weapons
violations and narcotics distribution.

The arrest was conducted in the early morning hours of
Sept. 4, 2012, when U.S. Marshals from the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task
Force assisted by Puerto Rico State Police officers from Guayama made entry
into the fugitives residence located in the Comunidad Carite Ward, Cafeito
sector.

During the arrest, two Glock .40 caliber pistols and one
Beretta nine millimeter pistol was seized. Also seized was a small quantity
of alleged narcotics, a vehicle, motorcycle, and $80,000 dollars in U.S.
currency. Javier Morales Andreu is currently being held in the Metropolitan
Detention Center in Guaynabo, PR awaiting court proceedings.

"The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to hunt
fugitives, find them, and make sure that they face their charges in court"
said Orlando Rivera, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico.

Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals
result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More
federal fugitives are arrested by Marshals than all other federal agencies
combined.

The U.S. Marshals Service led Violent Offenders Fugitive
Task Force is composed of law enforcement officers from the San Juan
Municipal Police Department, the Puerto Rico State Police, the Puerto Rico
Department of Corrections, the Puerto Rico State Treasury Department, the
Puerto Rico Bureau of Investigation, the Puerto Rico National Guard and the
United States Marshals Service.

The objective of the task force is to seek out and arrest
violent offenders. Last year, U.S. Marshals led task forces arrested more
than 27,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges.